Loading and discharge pipe-line system for oil tankers



Dec. 25 1923.

O. H. G. STEED LOADING AND- DISCHARGE PIPE LINE SYSTEM Fon oIL TANKERS Filed Dec. 1, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 25, 1923.

1,478,925 o. H. G. STEED LOADING AND DISCHARGE PIPE LINE SYSTEM FOR OIL TANKERS Filed De. l, 1922 2 snetsfsheet 2 Patented Dem 25, 1923.

UNITED sr'rEs 1,478,925; PATENT orf-Fics.,

OTHO HENRY GEORGE STEED, F STAFFORD, ENGLAND..

LOADING AND DISCHARGE PIPE-LINE SYSTEM FOR OIL TANKERSL 1 Application filed vDecember To @Z510/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, @Tiro HENRY GEORGE S'rnnn, af subject of the King` of Great Britain, and.l resident of` Stafford, in the county 5 of Stafl`ord,.England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Loading and Discharge Pipe-Line Systems for Oil Tankers, of.` which the following is a speciication.

l0 This invention relates to loading and discharge systems for oil tanks on ships and more particularly to the construction and arrangement vof the pipe line affording communication between the storage reservoir and the tank whereby the latter is adapted to beloaded or discharged.

. Much diiculty has been heretofore experiencedinconnection with these pipe lines 4owing to thefact that, as thetank in a ship is liable duringthe period of loading to considerable movement, both vertically on account ofv tide anda'displ'acement variations, and. horizontally broadside and fore. and aft on: account yof .the swell,y the pipev line must be such as to provide for universal flexibility. within fairly wide limits.

It has been they common practice therefore to adopt ordinary armoured flexible tubing for this pipe line and to work at the relatively low pressures which such tubing demands; but even at such low. pressures leakages and; breakages arey of constant occurrenceA and' the: tubing has to be renewed periodically'` at short intervals.

rThe object of the 'present invention is the provision of a pipe linel which, while providing for universal flexibility, will be capable of withstanding high pressures for loading and.l discharge whereby the time occupied in loading and discharge is very ma'- terially reduced, and? which pipeline will moreover be of great durability and strength.

The'invention to this end. consists broadly in the provisiony between' the storage reservoir/and the tank of a pipe line comprising a pipe/line constructed of. rigid pipeglengths connected together by fluid tight joints permitting of relative angular movement of the adjacent sections, wherein the two central rigid sections of the pipe line are connected together by a joint admitting of their relative movement inxaf vertical plane while their louter ends are connectedV to the other adjacent membersof the systemv by univer- 1, 1922. seriaiivo. ,eo-1,376.

sal` joints admitting of relative angular movement` in both vertical and horizontah planes. i A further important and novelf feature of the inventionA inv itst preferred form: resides in the character of the device by which it is proposed to support the `pipe line intermediate its two ends,A such device including simple and eifective rmeans, whereby the necessary movements of the intermediate portions of the line corresponding to the movements of the vessel are freely permitted without any reductionin the efficiency of the support. c n One embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated` in4 the accompanying, drawings and the same will now be described, it being understood that the structure'illustrated-is sus.- ceptible of various modifications without departing from the. scopev of the appended claims.. f i v In these drawings :-A

Figureal illustrates the embodiment in side elevation: (ie. looking endwise ofthe ship and the quay side) the full lines; showing: the structure when the ship is; at its maximum level and; maximumdistance from the quay, and the dottedflines indicatingthe disposition of the pipe linev wh'eni the ship is at the other several criticalr positions.

Figure 2 is a, plan view of thel pipe line with the` ship at4 its maximum level and maximum distance from the quay,.and

Figure. 3 is anv end; view. ofthe; structure with part of the pipe line broken. away.

Referring to these drawings and. particularly. to Figure l` the same illustrate three lengths of straight steel tubingl 1f, 2l and 3 of the. desired: diametersay fiori instance, nineI inches-and about four; elevenr and eight feet long respectively. The length 1 isidisposed substantially vertical' adjacent thev quay Q. and is connected with the source of oil supply at its lower end through the mediumof two right angle bends 4 and 5' having between them a rotary joint 6 rotatable in avcrtical *plane perpendicular to the side of the, ship. At its upper endsaid length l is connected through the medium of two right angle bends-7 and 8 to theY length ,1M 2, one rotary joint 9 rotatable in a horizon- 4tal plane being disposed between the length disposed between said two right angle bends 7 and 8, thesaid length 2 being thus capa-- ble ofswinging universally from its point Y ot connection with the length 1` rllhe length 2 is connected at its end remote from the length 1, to the length 3 through the medium otjtwo right angle bends 11 and 12 having between them a single rotary joint 13 rotatable in a vertical plane per pendicular to the side of the vessel, and the length 3v is similarly connected through themedium of right anglebends 14 and 15 and rotary joints 16 and 17 to a bend pipe j 18 which in turn communicates withA the movements will be take-n up by the vertical joints, and the fore and aft movements primarily lby the horizontal joint together with the universal joint," though the vertical joints will'alsoV rotate slightly during tore and aft movement. Thus when the ship is at its maximum level and minimum disv tance Vfrom the quayf'the vertical joints 10,

13 and 16 will permit of the pipe line to contract to the position indicated in dotted lines at A and when the'ship is'at its minimum level and minimum and maximum distances respectively from the quay, the said vertical joints will permit of the line to assume the positions indicated at B and C. -Further it is clear that for any of the above positions of the vessel the horizontal joints together with the universal joint 19 will permit ot considerable latitude in respeot of fore and att movement. j

In addition to the support constituted at the 'two ends of the pipe line by the quay and thel ship respectively, the said line is supported both at the upper end of the length 1 and intermediate the two lengths 2 and 3 z-at the former position by two tie bars 26 and 21 attached to the quay and vmainta'ining'the length 1 substantially stationary during operation, and at the latter position by means of an overhead suspensionl line 22 depending from a pulley 23 mounted so as to be rotatable and laterally lslidable upon an axis 24 carried at the orward end of' a pivoted structure or gantry G having an after counter-balance weight W, a winding drum 25 operated by a worm wheel mechanism being' further providedA at theafter end of vsaid structure G whereby the'sus'pension line 22 may be drawn in or playedout to prevent :the structure` from tilting inconveniently in response to the broadside and vertical movement of the vessel. i

1t should be clearly understood that I ydo not limit myself to the exact disposition a common suspension line connected to said' points Vand passing over the fore pulley either o1' a structure such as the structure G or of a derrick having other suitable supporting means preferably of counter-balance construction. i Y

Suitable joints for use in'connection with this invention are those described in the specifications prior patent applications Ser. No. 305,817, led June 31st, 1919, and Ser. No. 567,698,1iled June 12th, 1922. Y

VI am aware that in a water supply system in which a rigid pipe or pipes are embedded in sand at the bottom of a river and through which'water is drawn to a pumping station after being liltered bythe sand, it has already been proposed to provide both the delivery pipe and the strainer pipesseoured to the delivery pipeV with universal joints; and that it has been proposed in anoverhead suspended and articulated pipe system to have the male members of rotary joints stayed together for the purpose of preventing bending stresses acting injuriously on the joints, the said joints connecting together rigid pipe lengths so asto Jform pipe lines which are adapted to extend between two points relatively movable in a iven plane. To the best of my knowledge and belief however they problem has never been met of providing a pipe line ofrigid lengths which will be suitable for affording communication between two structures adapted to move relatively in all directions.

What I claim anddesire vto secure by Letters Patent is i V 1. A loading and discharging system Vof pipes for oil tankers comprising a pipeline constructed of a plurality of rigid lpipe lengths connected .together by angularly movable iuid tight joints permitting of the relative angular movement of' the adjacent sections,the two central sections of the pipe being connected together by a joint admitting of their relative movement in a vertical plane, while their outer ends are` connected to the other adjacent members of the system by universal joints admitting of relative angular movement'rin both vertical/f and horizontal planes. Y Y g v 2J A- loading anddischarging system 4of pipes for oil tankers comprising a pipe line constructed of rigid pipe lengths connected together by angularly movable Huid tight joints, and Aoverhead suspension line for supl porting the pipe line andfassociated with means for automatically maintaining it in tension, the two central rigid sections of the pipe being connected together by a joint connected to the suspension line and allowing them to move relatively to one another in the vertical plane when moved into any position by the suspension line.

another in the vertical plane When moved into any position by the suspension line, the end of the suspension line passing over the pulley on the gantry tothe means forpplay`r ing out and'drawing it in.r

4. A. loading vand discharging system ot f pipes for oil tankers comprising a pipe line constructed of rigid pipe lengths connected together by angularly movable luidtight joints, a suspensionline for Supporting the pipe line74 a counterweighted overhanging pivoted gantry having a laterally movable suspension line pulley at its overhanging end, and means for playing out and drawing in the Suspension line7 thertwo central rigid sections of the pipe line being connected together by a joint connected to the suspension line and allowing them to movey relatively` to one another in they verticalk plane when moved into any position by the suspension line, the end of the suspension line passing over the pulley on the gantry to the means for playing it out and drawing it in.

In witness'whereof I aiiix m OTHO HENRY GEORGE `STEED.

signature. 

